I offered to lead February's BOM.  I realize this is bad timing with the holiday approaching (not to mention February seems a loooooong way off!), but I'd like to open nominations now so that we can select the winner by early January to enable people to get their hands on the book prior to February.  I would've preferred to wait until next week to open up nominations, but then I figured this would really get lost in the Christmas shuffle! 

So, our theme for February will be . . .

What else? 

A LOVE STORY! 

Of course, it had to be with February being the month of Valentine's Day and all! 

So, please nominate a historical fiction love story.  Make me fall in love with the relationship of the characters.  It can be a happy love story, it can be a tragic love story, I just want to read a really, really good love story.  Any time period, any location.  I'm relatively new to HF, and I have yet to read a HF novel with a love story theme, so start throwing some ideas around! 

Nominations will close on December 30 (yes, we have a nice long time to wear our thinking caps), and I will announce the winner on New Year's Day.  I imagine we are all very busy this time of year, so I will be shamelessly bumping this thread from time to time to keep it on people's minds.  Of course, a book few if any of us have ever read would be best.  I will put the names of all nominations in a hat and have my DH or DS draw the winner. 

Hoping we have a great BOM turn out in February!!

UPDATE - 12/31/08 - LIST OF NOMINEES (Sorry, I can't make the links work - if you want the links, scroll down to the original post where the book was nominated.  Most people have supplied links.)

 The Russian Concubine

The Gargoyle

The Painter from Shanghai: A Novel 

The Winthrop Woman 

Hugh and Bess

The Moon in the Water 

The Marriage of Meggotta: A Love Story 

 The Twentieth Wife 

The Black Tulip

A Crowning Mercy

The Bronze Horseman

The Proud Breed

The Lady and the Unicorn

 Let me know if I missed any. I'll update again in another few days for new nominations. Remember, nominations close December 30, and I['ll post the winner on New Year's Day.  Thanks for all the great nominations!  Looking forward to February's BOM!

I love this topic - love stories are my favorite!!  I took a look at my TBR list and WL, and here' s a few I'd like to nominate.

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan

The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

The Painter from Shanghai: A Novel by Jennifer Cody Epstein

Great suggestions, Michelle!  I hadn't heard of any of them except The Twentieth Wife, which is also on my TBR list.  They all sound very good.  Can't wait to see what other nominations we get! 

I'm all about love stories, this is awesome.

I've read The Russian Concubine, but not any of the others.

Ok, I have a nomiation, but I had a typo in my Amazon search, and found this one that looks good:

The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton. http://www.amazon.com/Winthrop-Woman-Novel-Anya-Seton/dp/155652644X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229455616&sr=8-3

And, my original nomination:

Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham. I got it from my Secret Santa and can't wait to read it.  http://www.amazon.com/Hugh-Bess-Story-Susan-Higginbotham/dp/0615171877/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229455792&sr=1-1

(I'm having a problem with my link dialogue box, sorry)

The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton is wonderful.  I almost nominated it.  I didn't because I've read it.  I would definitely read it again if it's chosen.  Colonial America is one of my favorite time periods.

I would recommend The Black Tulip...however, I don't know that it qualifies....it was written by Dumas in the 19th century...but it takes place in the 17th century Holland.  If it's not allowed then that's cool but it does have a nice love story. :)

I nominate The Moon in the Water by Pamela Belle; it takes place during the English Civil War (1600s) and has a really great love story, lovers separated by the war, etc. It's out of print but there are multiple copies available used at Amazon, and it looks like it's available here, too.

I'd like to nominate The Marriage of Meggotta: A Love Story by Edith Pargeter -  http://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Meggotta-Edith-Pargeter/dp/158579029X/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1229523087&sr=11-1

Set in 13th century England, The Marriage of Megotta tells the story of a young couple falling in love, their secret marriage, and it's heartbreaking aftermath. This book is based on a true story. It's not available here, but there are copies for sale at Amazon for as low as 49 cents. I've read that we will need plenty of Kleenex at hand while reading this book. I think knowing it really happened would make it even more sad!

Janelle, is The Moon in Water the first book in a series? I'm asking because I found a book by Belle titled "Alathea" and I think it is part of The Moon in Water series, but I'm not totally sure. I also got Belle's book "The Lodestar", but I don't think it is part of a series. I suppose I could Google the books... ;-)   I'd really like to try one of Belle's books, so I kinda hope it gets chosen.

Please note that I updated my original post to list the nominees we have so far. 

Keep 'em coming!  All of the books suggested so far sound great!!  Good think I'm just drawing a name out of a hat for this one.  I could never pick!

Ooooh, Bernard Cornwell!!  I like it.  Adding it to the list. 

Reminder: Nominations close December 30. 

The Winthrop Woman is sitting here waiting to be read so I'd try to read along with that one. I'm supposed to get back to the Puritans after the holidays.

My participation may be a good thing or a bad thing :-) 

How about The Proud Breed by Celeste De Blasis.  It is a heck of a love story.  Time period is around 1850 until 1900 in California. Also

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. Takes place in Russia when Hilter invades. A very moving story.

Jane

Okay, I updated the list again.  Going once, going twice!  If you've got a nomination, please get it in ASAP.  I'll be picking the winner on New Year's Day. 

I've read "The Bronze Horseman" but it was very good.

I second Gargoyle since its on my WL.  How bout The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier?  Does that fit the theme?  The description on Amazon makes it seem more love storyish than the one here on PBS does....

Holly - Just added The Lady and the Unicorn to the list!  Thanks!

I really liked "Lady and the Unicorn" and yes, it is lovestoryish.

Happy New Year!

FYI, I have narrowed the field down to two books, and I need your help.  Please see the "February BOM - YOU Pick The Winner" thread I just posted for details!